SMOKED CHAFF SEEDLING RAISING MAT FOR IRRIGATED RICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe and hardly breakable seedling raising mat for irrigated rice, having an appropriate hardness, capable of being easily used, and having appropriate shape-keeping properties, air-permeability, water absorbability and water retaining properties.SOLUTION: A substance including smoked chaff as a main material to which abaca fiber is added is kneaded with water, and the kneaded substance is dehydrated and molded in a plate-shape to make the smoked chaff seedling raising mat for irrigated rice. A better smoked chaff seedling raising mat for irrigated rice can be obtained by kneading 80-90 wt.% of smoked chaff and 20-10 wt.% of abaca fiber. As smoked chaff is used, the seedling raising mat can be lightweight, can be easily used, and the water absorbability and water retaining properties can be improved. Further, fertilizers can be kept long in the mat, and the mat can be inexpensively obtained. In addition, the mat is harmless while having a soil improving effect and a root-rot preventing effect. On the other hand, as the abaca fiber is used in the mat, the fiber is relatively long and sufficient to carry smoked chaff. The mat has shape-keeping properties, though the mat does not hinder the scraping motion of a rice transplanter.